I let mine warm up until the tach goes back down to normal idle.

When you first start it the engine goes up to around 2k like Joshua said. Then it will slowly settle back down to a normal idle and that's when I actually start to drive... BUT even then I don't really drive it "fast" until it's been running a while.

I have almost 200k miles on my '91 GT and this is what I do with that car as well so it works I think

That and regular oil changes / maintenance.


edit:

Hey Cheese302... that's interesting about the oil pressure.

In my '91 after I've been driving it a bit the oil pressure goes a little on the low side... not "Low" but it goes closer... probably from exactly what you're describing.

I wonder if I need to add oil occasionally if it dips low when it gets warm?

 

Comming from somone who works on hydraulics I may know a thing or 2 about oil temperature. Yes it is a good thing to let the oil warm up some. This will help its viscosity and the ability for proper fliud flow. I let mine warm up a few minutes and then drive nice till it warms up.

 

Engine start-up is the point at which almost all of the wear will take place. This is the point at which the thinest layer of residual oil coating the parts remains. Within a few seconds of start-up, your engine is bathed in modern multi viscosity (and thin compared to 10 or 20 years ago) 5-w20 semi-synthetic wonder juice. Modern chemistry really is amazing when it comes to these concoctions. It is true that it is probably prudent to wait for the car to warm up a bit before beating on it. I do what most have said here...keep it under 2.5k rpm until I see the water temp guage start to read something. It is also true that the car will perform optimally at normal operating temperature.(ie. produce the most power, use the least gas, produce the least emissions, etc.) I don't think it's necessary to baby it in the name of longevity, though. As long as the car is maintained, it should last a good long time.

 

every day! Start it up, come inside gather my things for work and then head out. Usually about 3 minutes or so.

 

I do the exact same thing.

 

Ive seen cold oil pressure spikes as high as 100 psi on the autometer guage. Thats settles down once warm, as mentioned.

Once my water temp hits 150, shes ready to rip Otherwise, like everyone else, I keep it under 2500 until then.